Borough of Sanctuary

Our vision is for Richmond to be a place where all sanctuary seekers feel welcome, safe and have access to opportunities and support to thrive.

We were proud to become a Borough of Sanctuary on 14 June 2024. This accreditation is awarded to boroughs that go above and beyond to support sanctuary-seeking residents.

Find out more about our accreditation as a Borough of Sanctuary and about the City of Sanctuary movement.

Refugee resettlement and support

Richmond has a proud history of welcoming refugees and sanctuary seekers into its community, from the arrival of the Huguenots in the 17th century and Belgians during World War I, to more recent populations of displaced people from Afghanistan, Syria, Hong Kong and Ukraine. 

Find out about our refugee resettlement and support services, and other refugee support networks in the borough.

Discover how to get help in a crisis.

Refugee Week grants scheme

As part of our commitment to being a Borough of Sanctuary, we are offering grants to support voluntary and community organisations in delivering activities and events for Refugee Week.

Refugee Week is a UK wide celebration recognising the contributions and resilience of those seeking sanctuary. These grants aim to support events in Richmond that celebrate the contributions of sanctuary seekers, in line with this year's theme “Community as a superpower”.

The maximum grant awarded will be £2,000.

How to apply

Read the Refugee Week grants scheme guidance notes for information on who can apply and what we fund.

Complete the Refugee Week grants scheme application form.

Submit the application form and supporting documents to boroughofsanctuary@richmond.gov.uk.

How funding is awarded

The fund will be awarded on a rolling, first come, first served basis, so we strongly encourage early applications. The scheme will close once all funds are allocated.

For more information on what we might fund, please contact boroughofsanctuary@richmond.gov.uk.

After the conclusion of your event, we may ask you to complete a short monitoring report on the outcomes.

Borough of Sanctuary Grant scheme

Our Borough of Sanctuary Grant Scheme provides grants of up to £10,000 to groups and projects that work with refugees and asylum seekers, to enable them to undertake activities for six to twelve months.

Larger grants and longer projects may be considered in exceptional circumstances where a clear need and sustainable proposal can be demonstrated.

Support for those with no recourse to public funds

We may be able to support people who are excluded from claiming public funds due to their immigration status. Find out who is eligible for NRPF support, and how to apply.

Richmond Sanctuary Partnership

The Richmond Sanctuary Partnership is fundamental in ensuring that the voice of the community, including people with lived experience, is heard. It meets quarterly and is attended by Richmond Councillors and representatives from Richmond’s voluntary and community sector organisations, with a secretariat comprised of Richmond Council’s Refugee Services team. It is an opportunity for collaborative work as well as the sharing of knowledge and ideas.

The Richmond Sanctuary Partnership also oversees the implementation of our Borough of Sanctuary Strategy. This captures key actions and commitments that will ensure Richmond is a more inclusive borough to all sanctuary seekers.

Get involved

The work of the Richmond Sanctuary Partnership is guided by the Richmond Sanctuary Board. We are currently looking for Richmond residents with lived experience of forced migration to join the Board to share their opinions, and provide insight and feedback. Find out more about how to apply to join the Richmond Sanctuary Board.

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